Welder Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) welder in the US earns $25.84 an hour, or $53,750 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 416,210 jobs (May 2025, occupation: welders, cutters, solderers and brazers). The middle half earn between $46,790 and $63,010 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $77,530.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $45,368 a year ($3,781 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Alaska ($65,304 a year) and lowest in Alabama ($39,132).
Welder pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $18.87 | $39,240 | $33,710 |
| 25th percentile | $22.50 | $46,790 | $39,776 |
| Median (half earn more) | $25.84 | $53,750 | $45,368 |
| 75th percentile | $30.29 | $63,010 | $52,809 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $37.28 | $77,530 | $63,372 |
The average (mean) is $56,760 a year ($27.29 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 51-4121. Source
Welder salary by state
The highest median pay for welders is in Alaska ($80,850), Hawaii ($79,000), Connecticut ($64,880), Wyoming ($63,840), Washington ($63,020). The lowest is in Arkansas ($47,960), Tennessee ($48,050), Georgia ($48,420).
The most welders work in Texas (52,000), California (26,060), Ohio (20,330).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Alaska ($65,304), Hawaii ($59,539), Wyoming ($53,476), New Hampshire ($52,286), Washington ($51,942). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.31 | $48,480 | $39,132 | 12,450 |
| Alaska | $38.87 | $80,850 | $65,304 | 790 |
| Arizona | $26.73 | $55,600 | $45,743 | 7,270 |
| Arkansas | $23.06 | $47,960 | $39,431 | 6,150 |
| California | $27.91 | $58,050 | $46,394 | 26,060 |
| Colorado | $28.17 | $58,590 | $46,663 | 4,970 |
| Connecticut | $31.19 | $64,880 | $51,118 | 1,790 |
| Delaware | $27.54 | $57,280 | $45,473 | 600 |
| District of Columbia | $28.93 | $60,170 | $50,527* | 280 |
| Florida | $24.35 | $50,650 | $42,877 | 16,420 |
| Georgia | $23.28 | $48,420 | $39,418 | 13,130 |
| Hawaii | $37.98 | $79,000 | $59,539 | 520 |
| Idaho | $24.30 | $50,540 | $40,969 | 3,300 |
| Illinois | $24.67 | $51,310 | $41,012 | 16,260 |
| Indiana | $23.91 | $49,730 | $39,716 | 13,280 |
| Iowa | $26.49 | $55,100 | $44,893 | 9,270 |
| Kansas | $23.75 | $49,400 | $39,916 | 6,370 |
| Kentucky | $24.74 | $51,460 | $41,845 | 6,630 |
| Louisiana | $29.93 | $62,250 | $50,672 | 13,690 |
| Maine | $29.92 | $62,230 | $49,167 | 1,690 |
| Maryland | $29.00 | $60,320 | $46,376 | 2,850 |
| Massachusetts | $30.08 | $62,570 | $49,498 | 2,830 |
| Michigan | $24.03 | $49,980 | $40,466 | 13,330 |
| Minnesota | $28.98 | $60,280 | $47,053 | 9,270 |
| Mississippi | $24.57 | $51,110 | $41,947 | 6,460 |
| Missouri | $24.98 | $51,960 | $42,422 | 10,600 |
| Montana | $26.73 | $55,600 | $45,009 | 1,530 |
| Nebraska | $25.10 | $52,210 | $42,356 | 4,200 |
| Nevada | $29.58 | $61,530 | $51,619 | 1,600 |
| New Hampshire | $29.98 | $62,360 | $52,286 | 1,110 |
| New Jersey | $28.58 | $59,450 | $47,453 | 3,730 |
| New Mexico | $28.77 | $59,840 | $48,236 | 2,390 |
| New York | $28.43 | $59,130 | $46,776 | 8,310 |
| North Carolina | $24.32 | $50,590 | $41,269 | 11,750 |
| North Dakota | $29.81 | $62,000 | $51,919 | 2,590 |
| Ohio | $24.20 | $50,340 | $41,505 | 20,330 |
| Oklahoma | $23.90 | $49,710 | $40,432 | 9,960 |
| Oregon | $28.58 | $59,450 | $45,601 | 5,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $25.43 | $52,890 | $43,016 | 17,850 |
| Rhode Island | $24.32 | $50,590 | $40,413 | 2,300 |
| South Carolina | $24.03 | $49,980 | $40,596 | 7,380 |
| South Dakota | $23.77 | $49,440 | $41,905 | 3,250 |
| Tennessee | $23.10 | $48,050 | $40,788 | 12,510 |
| Texas | $25.64 | $53,330 | $45,031 | 52,000 |
| Utah | $28.07 | $58,390 | $46,496 | 4,440 |
| Vermont | $29.27 | $60,880 | $49,277 | 340 |
| Virginia | $28.45 | $59,180 | $47,142 | 10,100 |
| Washington | $30.30 | $63,020 | $51,942 | 7,720 |
| West Virginia | $23.46 | $48,800 | $39,997 | 2,100 |
| Wisconsin | $28.08 | $58,410 | $46,442 | 15,320 |
| Wyoming | $30.69 | $63,840 | $53,476 | 1,850 |
Overtime and pay rules for welders
Welders who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a welder's pay
On the median $53,750, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 15.6% of pay for a single filer: $4,270 of income tax and $4,112 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $37,650, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,688 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $322, so it costs about $2,365 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed welders are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Correctional Officer | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Auto Mechanic | $50,620 | $24.34 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $26 an hour is how much a year.
Welder salary questions
How much does a welder make?
The median pay is $25.84 an hour, or $53,750 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $39,240 and the top 10% more than $77,530.
How much does a welder make after taxes?
About $45,368 a year, or $1,745 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Alabama, at that state's own median pay, it is about $39,132.
How much does a welder make a month?
About $4,479 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $3,781 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays welders the most?
Alaska, with a median of $80,850 a year ($38.87 an hour). Next are Hawaii ($79,000) and Connecticut ($64,880). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Alaska.
How much does a welder make an hour?
The median is $25.84 an hour. The middle half earn $22.50 to $30.29, and the top 10% more than $37.28.
Do welders get paid overtime?
Welders who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.